Banker s case



(No Model.) I

M. P. LANGPELD.

h BANKERSCASE. No. 389,579. Patented Sept. 18, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORRIS F. LANGFELD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BANKERVS CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 389,579, datedseptember 18, 1888.

Application filed June 16, 1888.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MORRIS F. LANGFELD, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Bankers Cases, of which the following is a specificationj Myinvention has reference to bankers cases and like articles; and it consists in certain improvements fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form part thereof.

It has been customary to make bankers cases with a single holding or binding strap, which is secured at one end to the flap of the case, and having the other end free for encircling the case and fastening through bars. The object-ion to this is that when the case is open there is no means of holding it from spreading out or expanding, and, furthermore, the strap has to be made long enough for the case when packed full, and consequently will be too long when the case is almost empty. To overcome the first of these defects, it has been proposed to apply to such acase two additional bottomsustaining straps, arranged on each side of the main holding or binding strap and attached to the body of the case on front and back with provision for adjustment. The adjustable bottom-sustaining straps will prevent the expansion of the ease beyond given limits; but they will not overcome the objectionable features of the fixed length of binding-strap. Another defect in such a construction as here set out is that there are three distinct straps to arrange and keep in order, and they are so constructed as to be objectionable, in that they present projecting parts which areliable to become caught and injured.

The object of my invention is to simplify the entire construction of the means employed for accomplishing the adjustment of the expansibilityof the case and to overcome en ordinary bankers case with a single central binding or holding strap at its middle, and

' which strap is secured to it by an adjustable connection atone end, so that the strap may Serial No. 277,321. (No model.)

be readily lengthened or shortened to suit the varying thickness of the case due to the changthen up and through a bar, admitting of adjustment. This will prevent undue expansion of the case at the bottom when opening it,and the strap can be lengthened or shortened, so that the varying thickness of the case may be compensated for and no objectionable and useless strap-length will be necessary. Besides these features the adjustable connection of the strap with the case is concealed and protected by the flap or cover, and there is nothing needlessly exposed to be caught or injured.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved bankers case open. Fig. 2 is an end view of same closed. Fig. 3 isca plan view of the holding or binding strap removed. Figs. 4 and 5 are side elevations of modifications of my invention, and Fig. 6 is also a modification of my invention. 7

The case consists of the front part, A, the back part, B, the intermediate bellows foldpoekets, O, and the cover or flap D, combined with a holding or binding strap; and it is to this latter that my invention is directed. The front part, A, ofthe case and in its middle is provided with two or more transverse bars, E, the lowermost of which is preferably the stronger. These bars are arranged one above the other, as shown. The back B is provided with a heavy bar, G, of similar construction near its bottom, and the flap orcover D is also provided with a similar bar. The holding or binding strap is shown in Fig. 3; and it consists of the long body part F, of uniform width, and the T-shaped head f. This strap is passed under the bars E, G, and H in succession, and when the case is closed the end of said strap passes under the bar G a second time to seal the case. The head f of the strap catches on the bars E, and by passing thestrapFthrough one, two, or more of said bars E its available length may be lengthened or shortened to suit the contents of the case. When the case has but little in it, the strap is passed through all three bars E, and as it is filled more the strap is drawn out and reinserted through but two of the bars E or one, as required. The object of this is self-apparent, and will be found in the fact that if the adjustment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is right for the case when empty or when holding only a few papers the end of the strap F will have its free end nicely held in the bar G, and if the case is very full and the strap is adjusted to the lowermost bar E, then the free end of the strap will still be received by the bar G in the same relation. From this it is evident that the adjustment of the available length of strap is proportional to the increase in size of the case, according to whether it is empty or filled, audiu no case is there an excess of loose strap to be taken care of.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4,in place of the bars E and headf of the strap, buckles E are employed, in which the end of the strap F may be secured and adjusted as before. In this instance the case is shown as being full and the strap F lengthened to its full extent. In the ease of Fig. 5 we have but one buckle, E, and the strap made with several holes in its end, and thus the strap may be lengthened or shortened, as desired. In all of these in stances it will be observed that the means for adjusting the strap are under the flap D, and are thus protected and offer no obstruction on the outside, which is averyimportantfeature.

It will be noticed that all of the bars E, G, and H are fastened securely at both ends, and are therefore very strong and durable, and the strap F cannot become accidentally displaced.

The strap F, passing through the lowermost bar E and the bar G and around the bottom of the case, acts as a limiting means to its expausion,and forms a kind of hinge upon which to open it, sustaining the part O when full. It is evident that in place of one strap two may be used, if desired; but I have found that in practice one is amply suflicient.

If desired, the case may be provided on its back and flat with the cross-bars G and E, as shown in Fig. I, so that the strap F may be adjusted from one bar to the next to suit the necessary adjustment as to its length to correspond to the varying thickness of the case. In all of these constructions it is clear that we have a bankers case combined with a binding or holding strap adjustably secured thereto, and which feat-u re constitutes my invention, broadly.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A bankers case having a series of fixer bars upon its face,arrangcd one above the other, and a single bar upon its back, in combination with a biudingstrap having a length greater than the circumference of the case when filled, and having one end provided with a head to catch on one of said first-mentioned bars, and in which the said strap is of less width throughout its length (except its head) than the width of opening in the bars, and is threaded through said bars and entirely enci reling the case when sealed.

2. A bankers ease, combined with along binding or holding strap passing around it and adjustably secured at one end to the case under the front flap or cover, which acts as a protection and conceals the adjustable end of the strap.

3. A bankers case having its back provided with a bar, G, in combination with a long binding and holding strap adjustably connected to the face of the case under the flap and protected thereby, and passing under the bottom of the case and through the bar at the back, and having sufficient length to encircle the case to seal it.

4. A bankers case having the face provided with two or more transverse bars, E, arranged one above the other under the flap, and the bar G on the back, said bars being arranged in the middle of the ease, in combination with the long binding or holding strap F, adapted to entirely encircle the case, and having projeetions at one end, forming a head to catch upon the first bar through which it is passed, and passing under the case and up through the bar G.

5. A bankers case provided with a flap, and having a number of transverse bars arranged one above the other and permanently fixed to the case at each end, combined with a binding-strap of a length greater than the circumference of the case, and having a less width than the openings formed by said bars except at one end,the said strap passing through said bars and encircling the case to seal its flap.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

MORRIS F. LANGFELD.

\Vitnesses:

It. M. HUNTER, ERNEs'r HOWARD H un'rnn. 

